Gamma Calibration

Reference Guide

Document # 0900072 UM Rev. C

Bench Tree Group, LLC

www.benchtree.com
 Gamma Calibration
Reference Guide

COPYRIGHT
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The content of this document is for informational use only, is subject to change without notice, and should not
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liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in the informational content of this document.
This document may contain references to materials from third parties whose copyright must be acknowledged
by obtaining the necessary authorization from the copyright owner(s).
Copyright 2014 Bench Tree Group, LLC. All rights reserved

HOW TO USE THIS DOCUMENT

This section is intended to provide you with the revision history of your document. The Revision History table
lists the following information and will be updated with each new release.

Conventions used in this document

The conventions that are used in this document are described in the table below:

Convention Description

Italic Italic font is used to emphasize certain words, terms, or references to other
documentation or topics within the text.

Bold Bold font is used for hardware buttons, switches, ports, and connectors.

Note A note emphasizes important information or helpful tips.

Caution A caution indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, can
result in possible damage to equipment and minor to moderate injury.

A warning indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, can

Warning
result in serious injury or death.

Revision history
This section is intended to provide you with the revision history of your document. The Revision History
table lists the following information and will be updated with each new release:

Document Part # Revision Description Release Date

D4011 A Initial Draft 08/03/2016

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Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................... II

1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Part & Document Numbers ....................................................................................................................... 1

2. SETUP .................................................................................................................................................. 2

2.1 Install the Gamma Calibration Worksheet ................................................................................................. 2

2.2 Receiver, DM, and PC Setup ...................................................................................................................... 3

2.3 Gamma Sensor & Calibrator Setup ............................................................................................................ 3

2.4 Aligning the Gamma Probe ........................................................................................................................ 5

3. GAMMA CALIBRATION PROCESS ............................................................................................... 8

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1. Introduction
This manual provides instructions for use of the Minette Gamma Calibrator with Bench Tree Receiver &
Flow Simulator to calibrate Standalone MWD Gamma modules or Gamma Modules integrated with the
M+ Pulser or Gamma Modules integrated with the Short String MWD System.
The Gamma Calibrator is a device for determining the API sensitivity of MWD (1⅞” diameter) Gamma
Probes. The resultant Gamma API Ratio that is obtained can be used to normalize a Probe’s plots to API
standards.

1.1 Part & Document Numbers

Included Equipment
Part # Description
0900072 Minette Gamma Calibrator
0900072WS Gamma Calibration Work Sheet (MS Excel .xlsx file)

Additional Required Equipment

Part # Description
Windows PC with Bench Tree MWD Software Suite & MS Excel installed
Bench Tree MWD Receiver (Various form-factors available)
MWD Directional Module, BTEM, 3DM, or SSMWD
MWD Flow Simulator Kit
0900155 Jumper Cable
0900161 Programming Cable
Tape Measure

Reference Documents
Part # Description
D2003 MWD Utilities Installation & Setup
D2025 MWD Flow Simulator Reference Guide Document

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2. Setup
2.1 Install the Gamma Calibration Worksheet
The Gamma Calibration Worksheet is a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that provides:
 a summary of the calibration instructions
 a worksheet to simplify data entry & calculations for gamma calibration
 a printable certificate for the calibrated Probe
If the Gamma Calibration Worksheet has not already been installed on your PC, please follow these
steps:

1. Insert the provided Gamma Calibration Worksheet USB thumb drive into your PC and open the
drive for viewing installed files. The worksheet can also be emailed to you upon request.

2. Copy the worksheet, Excel spreadsheet file, to your PC. The file name includes “0900072WS”,
followed by a revision letter, followed by “Gamma Calibration Worksheet.xlsx”. For example,
0900072WS B Gamma Calibration Worksheet.xlsx

Note: Contact Bench Tree to make sure you are using the most current revision worksheet.

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2.2 Receiver, DM, and PC Setup

Connect the MWD Surface System, DM or SS MWD, & MWD Flow Simulator.
1. See MWD Flow Simulator Reference Guide Document # D2025 for setup instructions.

2.3 Gamma Sensor & Calibrator Setup

Prepare the Gamma Probe and Gamma Calibrator by performing the following steps. Note that a
Standalone Gamma or Gamma integrated with an M+ Pulser, or Gamma integrated with a Short String
MWD may be calibrated.
1. Locate the up-hole end of the Gamma Probe or M+ w/ Gamma Probe.

Up-hole end with 6-pin

4-socket 90° connector.
(connector may vary)

Figure 1: Gamma or M+-Gamma Uphole End Connector

2. Connect the up-hole end of the Gamma Probe or M+ with Gamma Probe to the Directional
Module using the jumper cable.

3. Place the Gamma Probe in the Calibrator and close its lid. See Figure 2. If the Gamma is
integrated to a Short String MWD Probe, the jumper cable is not needed. Connect the
programming cable to the top of the Probe.

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Gamma Probe Jumper cable

(up-hole end)

Directional
Module

Figure 2: Jumper Connecting Standalone Gamma or M+ w/ Gamma to DM/3DM

4. Power on the receiver. Launch the MWD Configuration Utility.

5. On the bottom-right of the MWD Configuration Utility window, verify that the Tool icon and
Ethernet icon both show with green checkmarks.

6. Pull down the Tool menu and click Diagnostic Tests to open the Tool Diagnostics window.

7. In the bottom-left corner in the Sensor Data section, verify that the Gamma count is a non-zero
value. Leave this window open as it will be used in following sections.

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2.4 Aligning the Gamma Probe

To perform an accurate calibration, the Gamma Probe should be aligned in the Calibrator at the position
that gives the highest possible Gamma count. To determine this position, you will be noting Gamma
counts along the entire length of the Probe, until the position with the highest Gamma count is found:
1. Have the Tool Diagnostics window open, as mentioned in the previous section.

2. Have the Gamma Probe inside the Calibrator (and the Calibrator shut), and allow the Probe to
warm up for 15 minutes inside the Calibrator.

3. Slide the Probe until its down-hole end is flush with the side of the Calibrator.

4. Wait 60 seconds and then note the Gamma count from the Tool Diagnostics window.

5. Slide the Probe’s up-hole end towards the Calibrator by one inch. Wait 60 seconds and then
notate the Gamma count from the Tool Diagnostics window. Repeat this step until the up-hole
end is finally flush with the side of the Calibrator.

6. From your list of notated Gamma counts, find the highest count, and align the Probe to the
position that generated that count. If desired, you may optionally adjust the alignment by
fractions of an inch if it yields a possibly higher Gamma count.

7. Once you are satisfied that the Probe is aligned to the position with the maximum Gamma
counts, mark the barrel OD to indicate its relative position to the Calibrator. Close the Calibrator
lid when done.

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Figure 3: Standalone Gamma Probe Positioned in Calibrator

Note: Measure the distance from your marker point to the one end of the Probe, and save this
measurement for your records. This will allow you to skip the above steps 1 to 6, the next time you are
calibrating this same Probe.

Figure 4, below, shows the approximate position of the Gamma Sensor within and M+-Gamma and
Short String MWD System and the approximate position within the Calibrator. The above procedure can
be used to align this configuration also.

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Figure 4: Approximate position of M+ with Gamma & Short String MWD within Calibrator

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3. Gamma Calibration Process

This process uses the Bench Tree MWD Surface System and flow simulator to log Gamma data. The
logged data will then be averaged and input to the Gamma Calibration WorkSheet to generate the
calibration.

1. Using the MWD Configuration Utility, load the configuration demo-gama 2. Contact Bench Tree
for this configuration, if not already available.

See the following screenshots for additional detail.

Figure 4: Loading demo-gama2 Configuration

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Figure 5: Verify Logging Sequence

Figure 6: Verify Scale Factor Setting

2. Save the configuration to the receiver and tool.

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Figure 7: Loading from Receiver and Tool

Figure 8: Configuration ready to begin

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3. Close the MWD Configuration Utility.

4. Start the Bench Tree BTR Interface. The Open a Logging Database window displays as shown
below.

Figure 9: Starting the Bench Tree BTR Interface

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5. Create a new logging database. Name appropriately for the Gamma Module that is being
calibrated. Note the location that the .mdb file is saved. Bench Tree recommends assigning a
file name which includes the Gamma Sensor’s serial number and the date logged.

Figure 10: Saving Database file

6. Confirm setup and continue.

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Figure 11: Confirming Setup

7. Switch the MWD Flow Simulator FLOW to “ON’ position. The system will begin transmitting the
Gamma logging sequence which was set up.

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Figure 12: Logging Sequence Starting

Figure 13: Transmitting & Logging Gamma Data

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8. Once the Gamma Sensor has warmed up, continue logging for at least 5 minutes with the Probe
in the Calibrator. Note the Start Time and Stop Time for each step below.

Note Move the Calibrator a minimum of 25’ away from the Gamma Sensor.

9. After step 8, keep logging data, however remove the Probe from the Calibrator and move the
Calibrator away from the Sensor to obtain background counts. Log the background counts for 5
minutes minimum.

10. After logging background counts per step 9, return the Calibrator and position the Gamma
Sensor to the proper location within the Calibrator. Log data for an additional five minutes
minimum.

11. Turn the MWD Flow Simulator Flow Switch to the “OFF” position.

12. Open the database to access the logged Gamma data. Convert the gammaDateTime column to
time.

Figure 14: Database with logged Gamma data

The redundant columns may be deleted. Leaving only mmDate & countsPerSecond columns as
shown below.

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Omit erroneous values recorded when moving the Probe to

& from the Calibrator, step 9.

Figure 15: Remaining Columns

13. Average the initial counts collected in Step 8. Note the average value. GCi
14. Average the background counts collected in Step 9. Note the average value. GCb
15. Average the final counts collected in Step 10. Note the average value. GCf

16. Open the MS Excel spreadsheet 0900072WS B Gamma Calibration Work Sheet.xlsx

17. Move to the Tab titled “SHEET 2 of 3” or “Worksheet”.

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18. Enter the information for the Gamma Probe being calibrated. Include the averages calculated in
steps 13 – 14..GCi, GCb, & GCf.

Figure 16: Entering Data into 0900072WS B Gamma Calibration Work Sheet.xlsx

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19. Save & archive the file as required. Move to the “SHEET 3 OF 3” or “Certificate” tab, and print
the Gamma Calibration Certificate as needed.

Figure 17: Certificate of Calibration

20. The Gamma calibration process is now complete.

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Proprietary and Confidential Reference Guide

Bench Tree provides companies with superior products and support,

blending the solid methods of tenure industry professionals with
fresh perspectives and technologies for today’s evolving rigs.

We believe our goal is the same as yours; we strive for your success.
We do this by offering 24x7 live support, compatibility with most
MWD equipment, extensive 3rd party repairs and service, short lead
times, client education and training, certified technicians, strict
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Bench Tree looks forward to setting new industry standards for

quality products and service.

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Copyright 2016 Document #: 0900072UM Revision C 19
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©2016 Copyright Bench Tree Group, LLC. Information subject to change without notice